Bahmian Culture, Music

7/27/2019 Bahmian Culture, Music...

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1. Bahamian Culture

Main article: Music of the Bahamas

Junkanoo music is indigenous to the Bahamas. It is associated primarily with Junkanoo, a type

of street carnival which occurs on Boxing Day (December 26) andNew Year's Day (January 1).

This traditional celebration was started with an African slave by the name of John Canoe.

Slaves were given a special holiday at Christmas time, when they could leave the work of theplantation behind and celebrate. The parades are characterized by spectacular costumes made of

crepe paper and powerful rhythms beaten traditionally on goatskin drums (accompanied more

recently with tom-tom drums orbongo drums) as well as rich brass bands and shaking cow

bells. Bahamian music also incorporates otherCaribbean forms such as Calypso, Trinidadian

Soca and Jamaican Reggae, as well as American-inspired Rap and Hip Hop.

Calypso and Rake 'n' Scrape singers and bands such as Baha Men have gained massive

popularity in Japan, the United States and elsewhere. While Bahamian music continues to be

enjoyed by the Bahamian public, with singers such as Ronnie Butler, "King" Eric Gibson, K.B,Macklyn,the Brilanders and kandee effn stah.

Main article: Music of The Bahamas

Bahamian music has clear connections to African forms, the goombay drums, used at junkanoo

and goombay festival have been traced to West African djembe drums and dances such as the

fire dance and the ringplay can be traced to Africa. The fire dance has become a thing of the

past, but before the 1940s, in the 'over the hill'

Festivals and celebration play an important role in Bahamian culture, and events such as theFox Hill Festival and the All Andros Crabfest include food and lively music. The most unique

and vibrant of all of the Bahamian festivals is the well-known Junkanoo. The festival, much like

Carnival held in other parts of the Caribbean, is characterized by parades, costumes, dance, and

food. The tradition grew out of the break that slaves used to receive around Christmas time

during the plantation era on the islands. Crepe paper is used to meticulously fashion intricate

and colorful costumes that provide the perfect visual accompaniment to the energetic music.

Parades are held for the event on Dec. 26 and Jan. 1.

Celebrated since the 16th or 17th century, today Junkanoo has grown into an organized event

with groups of up to 1,000 persons competing for cash prizes for best music, best costume,dancer, banner and best overall group presentation. Traditionally held on New Years Day,

Boxing Day and Independence Day, parades are also held during the annual Junkanoo Summer

Festival and the Just Rush competition. In addition, many hotels offer Junkanoo shows for

their guests throughout the year.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_of_the_Bahamashttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Junkanoohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boxing_Dayhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Year's_Dayhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goatskinhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom-tom_drumshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bongo_drumhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cowbell_(instrument)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cowbell_(instrument)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caribbeanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calypso_Musichttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soca_musichttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reggaehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rap_musichttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hip_hop_musichttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calypso_Musichttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ripsaw_Musichttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baha_Menhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Stateshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eric_Gibsonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_of_The_Bahamashttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Djembehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_of_the_Bahamashttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Junkanoohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boxing_Dayhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Year's_Dayhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goatskinhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom-tom_drumshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bongo_drumhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cowbell_(instrument)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cowbell_(instrument)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caribbeanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calypso_Musichttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soca_musichttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reggaehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rap_musichttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hip_hop_musichttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calypso_Musichttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ripsaw_Musichttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baha_Menhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Stateshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eric_Gibsonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_of_The_Bahamashttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Djembe


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2. Language

English is the official language ofThe Bahamas whereas, a vast majority of the population

speaks "broken" English known as Bahamian Creole (not to be confused with Bahamian Dialect

).There are some minor regional differences from island to island in terms of pronunciation (but

generally all are the same). The second most spoken language is Haitian creole which is spoken

by the 30,000-60,000 Haitian Migrants in The Bahamas which also include a vast number ofillegal Haitian Immigrants (2005).

African influence

In Bahamian Creole,some African words and expressions have been retained such as:

1. yall - plural- a group of people

2. yinna - you (plural) (Yoruba)

3. jook (v.) - to stab or poke (Fulani).

4. nanny -(v.n.)- fces or the act of defecation (probably ofKongo origin, from the word

nene, of similar meaning)

5. cut eye - an expression found in many Caribbean and Atlantic creoles, meaning to glareliterally squint or 'cut' your eyes

6. Jumbay - meaning ghost,is related to the Kongo word nzumbi of similar meaning,

7. Yam - to eat, a word still in use in some southern and eastern islands, related to the

African word nyam.

8. earl- used for oil

9. boungee- meaning for butt

10.poomp- to fart

11.lowness-make people feel guilty so they can help you (qj)

12.jeers - talk about some one in a way they wouldn't catch on (jamal)13.mussie- meaning probably

14.een - meaning not, didnt or will not

English, and African words, pronunciations, and idioms have all been assimilated into the

unique brand of English found in the Bahamas. Listeners will note, for example, the Cockney-

like dropping of the letter "H" from the beginning of words. The people in the Bahamas are

simultaneously proud and jovial. Common interactions are expected and include courtesies such

as "how are you?" and "good afternoon."

3. Storytelling

Storytelling and folklore played a large role in traditional entertainment in Bahamian

communities, particularly before modern television. Old stories are the Bahamas catch- all for

folk tales, spirit tales, riddles proverbs and even bible stories that make up the Bahamian oral

tradition. Many of these highly amusing tales also carry wise lessons. Bahamian storytelling

has witnessed some revival, through the works of Patricia Glinton Meicholas and other authors.

storytelling is one of the cultures taken from the African cultures these store's for example ber

bookie ber rabbi, why woman talk so much, etc.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Bahamashttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bahamian_Creolehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bahamian_Dialecthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haitianhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yoruba_peoplehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fulanihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kongo_languagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kongo_languagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Bahamashttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bahamian_Creolehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bahamian_Dialecthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haitianhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yoruba_peoplehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fulanihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kongo_languagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kongo_language


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4. Bush Medicine

Bush Medicine has been practised since the time of the slaves in the Bahamas. It is still used

today to cure many diseases using the naturally occurring plants found

aloe veraNative to Africa, are both used for medicinal and cosmetic purposes. The clear gel is

a remarkably effective healer of wounds and burns, speeding up the rate of healing and reducingthe risk of infection.

Wwild tamarind) is used mostly to nourish cattle, but is good for human ailments, too. As with

most bush medicine, you boil the leaves from the plant and brew into a tea. f ba

Love Vine If it is an aphrodisiac you are looking for, then theLove Vine could be the plant for

you. Apparently this vine can be found not-so-lovingly attached to other plants, which it

eventually kills. As with most of the local remedies, the vine leaves are made into a tea .k are

ThePeriwinkleplant has historically been used throughout the Caribbean to treat a wideassortment of diseases. It was used as a folk remedy for diabetes in the Bahamas for centuries.

Juice from the leaves is used to treat wasp stings and other insect bites. plant has historically

been used throughout the Caribbean to treat a wide assortment of diseases. It was used as a folk

remedy for diabetes in the Bahamas for centuries. Juice from the leaves is used to treat wasp

stings and other insect bites. boiled inater and then used topically for skin sores, measles, sunburn,

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Bahmian Culture, Music